In case it’s a while since you sat in front of a stripy tent and some puppets, we’ve put together a reminder of who’s who in the story of Punch and Judy. That’s the way to do it!
Mr Punch
Motivation: To shirk babysitting responsibilities and consume sausages left in his care.
Catchphrase: “That’s the way to do it!”
Fun fact: Mr Punch originates from the Italian 16th-century Commedia dell’Arte, in which he was a marionette called Pulcinella.
Mrs Punch (Judy)
Motivation: To find two minutes’ peace, while leaving her feckless husband in charge of her precious baby. As you do.
Catchphrase: “Oh Mr Punch! You are a nasty, nasty and WICKED man!”
Fun fact: Judy was originally known as ‘Joan’ in early versions of the play.
Toby the Dog
Motivation: To cause havoc and eat sausages (if the crocodile has not got there first).
Catchphrase: “Bow Wow Wow!”
Fun fact: Until animal welfare sensibly stepped in, Toby was sometimes played by a real dog in Punch and Judy shows.
The Crocodile
Character motivation: To steal the sausages from Mr Punch and devour them in one bite.
Catchphrase: SNAP SNAP!
Fun fact: No one is entirely sure why the crocodile was written in but it might be to do with the Victorians’ fascination with exotic animals.
The Policeman
Character motivation: To lay down the law wearing a very tall hat.
Catchphrase: Ello ello ello. What ‘ave we got ‘ere then?
Fun fact: Originally the police officer was a ‘beadle’, a sort of religious Community Support Officer.
The Ghost
Character motivation: To teach Punch a lesson. In most versions, there is a slapstick tussle and Mr Punch is the victor.
Catchphrase: “I hAVe CoMe tO haAAAUUUUuunnNt yOOOOoooOOU Mr pUuuunncCCHh!”
Fun fact: The ghost sometimes appears as the Devil, and ghost story writer, MR James cites the Ghost in Punch and Judy as his earliest inspiration.
Joey the Clown
Character motivation: A friend to Mr Punch, but one who likes to outwit him and make the audience laugh by doing so. Also wants his sausages looked after by him.
Catchphrase: “Has anybody seen Mr Punch and my sausages? (Cue: He’s behiiiiiiiinnd yoooooouuuu).”
Fun fact: Joey is named for the famous Victorian clown, Joseph Grimaldi.
The String of Sausages
Motivation: To be eaten by the clown, the crocodile or the dog, rather than by Mr Punch. We like to think the string of sausages has a moral motivation here.
Catchphrase: Not applicable. He’s the strong silent type.
Fun fact: The sausages usually belong to Joey the Clown, who entrusts their safety to Mr Punch, against all good sense, frankly. The sausages’ arrival in the cast of Punch and Judy is probably related to a plotline from one of clown Joseph Grimaldi’s acts.
If you’d like to find out more about Punch and Judy and how it’s growing and changing for modern audiences, don’t miss our Modern Eccentrics pages in our August issue, in which we meet some real life Punch and Judy people.
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